Crazy for the Boss (Crazy in Love Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

operations had been nine years before, when he’d been similarly summoned. Only that time his grandfather had berated him for refusing a management position at one of the company’s restaurants, something that, at the time, just seemed…boring. Unexciting. And worse…expected.
    Instead, he and some buddies had ideas of opening a new venture capital firm and were heading to LA to give it a go. Two failed attempts and a few years later, they’d been successful. Wildly successful.
    Not that his grandfather had cared. He’d taken James’s decision as a rejection of not just his business but his life. To say things had been strained the few times they’d seen each other at big family events was to put it mildly.
    “So you’re set on this whole Blossom Brew deal, huh? Even though taking on something like this in this economy could be the death of the company?”
    “I am. But like I mentioned in my initial proposal that I sent to you a few weeks ago, I think this is just the kind of change-up that Thornhill needs. It will breathe fresh life into the company, bring in a younger demographic of customers.”
    Cyrus grunted. “Well, don’t forget that your appointment as CEO wasn’t unanimous, and there are still a few members of the board who are loyal to Neil and would love any reason to kick you right back on your ass. Everyone’s looking for a leader. So you’d better deliver.”
    This wasn’t said warmly and James would have been surprised if it had. His grandfather had never been a demonstrably loving man, not even when James was a mere three years old and sent to live with him after his parents died in a tragic boating accident. As James had heard it, his own father had been very much a disappointment to Cyrus, and he didn’t have much higher expectations for his grandson.
    Not that this had stopped James from trying to earn the man’s love in his earlier years, or his respect years later.
    So he’d stopped trying. Especially in his college years when, away from Cyrus’s direct control and direction, James had decided to enjoy the benefits that having a trust fund he’d come into on his eighteenth birthday afforded him. It had been freeing.
    And after all these years of being away, standing here again felt like he’d gone back in time to when he was a ten-year-old kid who only wanted his grandfather to tell him he believed in him.
    That would never come. James knew this.
    “I’ll do my best. In fact, the legal department and I are flying to Chicago shortly to meet with the Blossom Brew group.”
    His grandfather guffawed. “Legal department. Once upon a time, a general counsel was good enough for this company. Employment counsel? Never heard of such a thing. Just be sure you don’t let the gal cut you off at the knees. Our managers and our employees need to know that some rules don’t change. They do their job or they’re out of here.”
    “That won’t be a problem. In fact, freeing up Dennis’s time from issues such as labor violations and employment law complaints will permit him to focus on more pressing contracts, like licensing and landlord matters, which are only going to pick up. Especially if we’re going to be scouting out locations for the first ten coffee shops I’d like to open in the next year.”
    “Just see that this gal doesn’t overstep herself.”
    Cyrus headed back to the door, stopping short as they both realized that Quinn was already standing there, looking red-faced and mortified. “I’m sorry. I thought we were meeting here before leaving for the flight.”
    James smiled to offer her reassurance. “Of course. While you’re here, let me make the introductions. Quinn, this is Cyrus Thornhill, chairman of the board. And this is Quinn Taylor, our new labor and employment attorney.”
    His grandfather held out his hand. “Miss Taylor. Pleased to meet you.”
    “The pleasure’s mine, sir.”
    “I’ll see you next week at Thanksgiving dinner,” he said, returning his